Fred Graves helped integrate Washington into the team when he first arrived from Pittsburgh in 2009, and Dave Ragone helped Washington produce career numbers of 74 catches, 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011.

But Washington sees something different in new wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, who played 13 years in the NFL, catching 470 passes for 7,023 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Graves was a college wide receiver who didn’t play in the pros, while Ragone is a former quarterback who is now the Titans quarterbacks coach.

“It’s been a pleasure to have the coaches we’ve had here previously, but when you have a guy that’s played our position, it’s a totally different response,” Washington said of Jefferson. “He played there, he understands some things that a lot of other guys don’t understand.”

That’s helped Jefferson keep the receivers motivated, according to Washington.

“When (challenges) come along, with the fire he has, he hasn’t been letting us accept complacency out of each other or out of ourselves,” Washington said. “He’s the guy behind us saying, `Not today, you’re not going to give up on me today.’ Those are the types of things we need.

“It’s not like we’ve been missing them, but at the same time, I don’t think they’ve been harped on as much in the past as (Jefferson) has harped on them. It’s the little things – blocking backside, making sure we’re running complete routes and … making you’re your route is crisp. Those are the type things that are going to help us out.”

As the Titans’ mini-camp came to an end last week, both head coach Mike Munchak and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains praised the wide receiver corps as being especially good during offseason workouts.

Washington said he felt good about what he saw from the group as well.

“We haven’t taken any days off,” Washington said. “Even on days where we seem to think that it might get too us and we might be a little tired, there’s always been one guy to push us mentally. It’s been me, it’s been Kenny (Britt), it’s been Damian (Williams), it’s been Kendall (Wright), and guys like Michael Preston and Marc Mariani.

“All the guys in this corps right now have been pushing each other every single day, not only with our words, but with our work ethic and our action. So we haven’t taken one day off. Every day we’re getting better and we just have to stay focused on those kind of things.”

Graves spent the last four seasons with the Titans, but wasn’t certain what the future would hold – as far as who would become head coach here or whether Graves would still have a job at that point.

“It’s a tough deal,” Graves said. “When Jeff got released … this was already a short-term career as far as being in one place. So to put my family in a situation where we’re not knowing what’s going on, I didn’t feel comfortable about it. This opportunity came along and added some security to it.”

Other factors played into Graves’ decision as well. He’d spent a season in Cleveland with Rob Chudzinski, who recently was named the Panthers’ new offensive coordinator. Graves also has a long-standing relationship with Panthers receiver Steve Smith, who he recruited at Utah.

“We had talked a number of times before (Chudzinski) got the job in (Carolina),” Graves said. “And it’s a good guy to work with in (new head coach) Ron Rivera, so it’s going to be exciting.”

Graves had good things to say when asked about Titans offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who is interviewing today for Tennessee’s head-coaching position.

“He’s a very smart guy,” Graves said. “People kind of look at him as he’s an ‘O-line’ coach, but he knows the offense in and out. He knows how to run the offense. He’s very aware of what to do on game day and situations like that. I think for him, because he played and was in the league so long, he understands how those things work.”

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2011/01/31/graves-finds-security-in-carolina/feed/1Graves becomes fifth coach to leave Titanshttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2011/01/31/graves-becomes-fifth-coach-to-leave/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2011/01/31/graves-becomes-fifth-coach-to-leave/#commentsMon, 31 Jan 2011 15:19:34 +0000JOHN GLENNON, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=12386The Titans have another hole to fill on their coaching staff. Wide receivers coach Fred Graves is headed to the Carolina Panthers to accept a similar position.

Graves’ departure means that five Titans coaches have either been fired or moved on since the end of the season. The other four are head coach Jeff Fisher, defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil, defensive line coach Jim Washburn and running backs coach Craig Johnson.

His fingers taped, Washington worked out 2 ½ hours before kickoff here at Heinz Field under the supervision of strength of conditioning coach Steve Watterson. Wearing headphones, he did some running, and later caught passes from receivers coach Fred Graves.

At one point, he pumped his fist.

When Washington was done, Watterson, trainer Brad Brown and Graves all crowded around as Coach Jeff Fisher joined them. They talked for a few minutes and then split up. From the press box, it looked like a decision had been made.

And Washington, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, didn’t look like a guy who got bad news. He sprinted downfield and tackled former teammate Hines Ward, who playfully grabbed at Washington’s leg. Then he went back to catching passes from Graves.

Washington was either putting on an act, or he’s playing tonight. He practiced on Monday and Tuesday and said he hoped to play against his former team, the Steelers, but would leave the decision to coaches and trainers.

Fisher said Washington would be a game-time decision. The official decision won’t be made until roughly 1 ½ hours before kickoff.

]]>http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/09/10/washingtons-body-language-looks-good/feed/0Justin Gage looks readyhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/08/05/gage-looks-ready/
http://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/2009/08/05/gage-looks-ready/#commentsWed, 05 Aug 2009 21:06:56 +0000GARY ESTWICK, The Tennesseanhttp://blogs.tennessean.com/titans/?p=621The theory formed shortly after the Titans selected Rutgers receiver Kenny Britt with the 30th pick of the 2009 draft was that the rookie would learn the offense, adjust to the NFL then jump into the starting lineup.

Leading up to the preseason opener, Britt has not practiced yet because of a hamstring injury, although he is close to returning.

Just as important: Justin Gage has looked great in training camp, catching nearly every pass thrown his way, cutting in every direction, showing off his athleticism by stretching out for tougher catches. He is clearly over the injuries that affected his impact last season.

Gage’s best NFL season was 2007, his first with the Titans, when he had 55 catches for 750 yards and two TDs.

Even with extra weapons around him, do you expect Gage to surpass his career-best in receiving yards?

Nate Washington, the free agent from Pittsburgh, is also playing very well. This is good news for the offense. Britt can focus on taking things slow, like receivers coach Fred Graves wants him to. Learn the offense and how to make plays on the outside.